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Veterans Treatment Court Overview - Mission Statement
The Mission of the Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court (WCVTC) is to enhance public safety and empower veterans to be productive members of the community by providing a judicially supervised, therapeutic Court that ensures accountability and recovery.
 
Intent and Purpose
The Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court (WCVTC) is designed to provide an alternative to the traditional method of adjudicating.  It is led by Judge Laura Barker and supported by a team of professionals from the legal, law enforcement, and treatment communities. The program is designed to facilitate the rehabilitation of veterans accused or convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses that meet criteria. All participants will have offenses which, in their totality, provide WCVTC at least 12 months of jurisdiction, but could be extended depending upon the treatment needs of each veteran participant.

The Veteran Treatment Court has two tracks available for Veterans and is designed to facilitate the rehabilitation of veterans accused or convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses that meet criteria. The two tracks available are the Pre-trial Diversion Track and the Probation Track.  The Court Program may offer Veterans an opportunity to avoid prosecution and a criminal conviction, if eligible for the Pre-Trial Diversion Track. The track will be determined by reviewing the nature of the arrest and the Veteran will be informed of the track available to them prior to their decision to participate in the Court.

Participants are carefully screened and must meet eligibility criteria. They are required to address their chemical dependency and/or mental health issues, resolve their legal obligations and obtain/maintain employment or schooling. They will also be required to make regular court appearances, meet with licensed probation officers, case management, submit to frequent and random drug testing, and advanced alcohol testing and monitoring equipment. The court will also direct its efforts toward changing offender behavior, addressing transportation and licensing issues, and focusing on the rights of any victims.

The goal of the Veterans Treatment Court is to reduce recidivism of eligible misdemeanor and felony offenses by identifying those individuals who require mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and placing them in an appropriate continuum of treatment.
 
Eligibility

The Veterans Treatment Court accepts all military branches-including reserves, National Guard and Active Duty Military service members who are charged with a crime in Williamson County and the crime charged is appropriate for the Veterans Treatment Court.

The criteria for eligibility include the following:

  • You must be at least 18 years of age.
  • You have received an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge. Other discharge conditions are considered on a case by case basis.
  • You have received a mental health diagnosis that has materially affected your criminal conduct for which you are being charged OR considering the circumstances of your conduct, personal and social background, and criminal history the WCVTC is likely to achieve the objective of ensuring the public safety through rehabilitation of the veteran in the manner provided by Texas Penal Code, Section 1.02 (1).
 
Process
  • Admissions to the WCVTC is not automatic and assistance with an attorney in preparing your application is recommended, but not required.
  • Completed applications, a copy of applicant’s DD214 or Orders, and a Release of Information is submitted to the Program Case Manager and forwarded to the County Attorney’s Office for review to determine applicant’s eligibility based upon criminal history and current charges.
  • The Program Case Manager will schedule and meet with Applicant to go over the treatment court requirement.
  • The Program Case Manager or treatment provider will meet with Applicant to schedule substance abuse and/or mental health assessment evaluations.
  • Applicants who have completed their assessment evaluations will have an individualized treatment care plan developed by the Program Case Manager or treatment provider. 
  • If program criteria are met and the applicant is accepted into the WCVTC the case is transferred to the Veterans Treatment Court.
 
Peer Mentor Program
Peer mentors are trained Veterans of the different armed forces who volunteer their time to assist the program participants through the court process.  The mission of the peer mentors is to provide the participant support, encouragement, and assistance in navigating VA and local services. Participants are assigned a peer mentor upon entering the Court who is there to support them through their journey.  Information about the mentor program can be found in the document section on this page.
 
Veterans Treatment Court Docket
The Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court is held at the Williamson County Justice Center located at 405 Martin Luther King St. in Georgetown, Texas. The Veterans Court has two dockets with one beginning at 2:00 pm and the other beginning at 4:00 pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month in County Court at Law 2.

Family and friends are encouraged to attend Veterans Court with you, but you must have permission for children to attend Court.
 
For More Information

Erin Lucas
Program Case Manager
512-943-1664
Erin.lucas@wilco.org

 
Documents
 TitleModified DateSize
Consent Form ROI Disclosure7/10/2023140.64 KB
Participant Application7/10/2023575.46 KB
Participant Manual7/10/2023954.17 KB
Peer Mentor Program7/10/2023578.36 KB
Policies and Procedures7/10/20236.43 MB
 

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Supported by Texas Veterans Commission

This program is supported by a grant from the Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance. The Fund for Veterans' Assistance provide grants to organizations serving veterans and their families. For mor information, visit TVC.Texas.gov